This is a video about couching thin sheets of handmade paper and transferring them on a carrying sheet. Find more papermaking tips & tricks at helenhiebertst...
Helen: I saw this video just when I started making paper, and I completely forgot this trick. It would have saved me a lot of trouble had I remembered. Now I know, and I'll start using it in my thin paper production. Thanks for making great content on RUclips and in your weekly newsletter, The Sunday Paper!
This is actually super helpful for me! My husband and I want to to go off grid for our future homestead, and one thing I kept getting hung up on was the many things we use paper for - writing, wrapping meat, baking, etc. With this technique, I think I can finally figure out how to make the thin sheets needed for waxed baking paper! Thanks for uploading!
Try flipping paper over (so felt side up) to remove from felt. Use finger or tool to loosen perimeter then pull felt away from paper. Works well if someone pulls the felt while someone else holds down the sheet.
There are many factors like what kind of pulp you are using, how thick/thin the sheets are, what you are couching onto... Here are some suggestions. try making thicker paper, couch onto cotton sheets (like I show here), pour water on the back of the mould after you lay the sheet onto the couching material, flooding the back of the screen. I hope you find success!
Hey if u can help me with dis... Am trying to couch the paper but am finding it very diff to couch it... It tears n half of d time it jus sticks to d mould.. I am coughing it on felt...
Couching can be difficult, especially if you are making thin sheets or your fiber is "sticky". It sounds to me like your sheets of paper are too dry when you are couching. Make sure that your felt is wet, and you can also try pouring water on the back of the couched mould. That sometimes helps the paper release.
Cool video, where do you get the large white couching sheets that are underneath the cotton. I can only find smaller ones. I have a hard time drying the paper well so there is a smooth surface for using as printmaking paper.
@@jeremyhulet9498 the blotters are the white sheets in the drying box. The white sheets on the couching table are heavy weight pellon (#65) and you can buy that by the bolt. Both could help your paper dry flat. I get the blotters from Dick Blick or Talas. The are called Cosmos blotters and they are pricey.
Do you think it would work for the outer layer of the sandwiching to be felt instead of the 2nd linter/blotter? So felt/linter/pulp/linter/felt. I'm just thinking cost effectiveness.
@@jeremyhulet9498 I have seen people use other materials like this. As long as you can get everything to dry, I think it is okay. You don't want any moisture trapped in there, or you'll get mold.
@@HelenHiebert Thanks for the help Helen! I started pressing the sheets like you mentioned here and in your drying box video, but I'm having trouble getting a really smooth surface. Do you have to use the blotters and have them next to the surface you want to be the smoothest or will the cotton fabric produce a nice smooth surface? I would like them to be as smooth as possible so you could even write/draw on them. I tried pressing and them letting my pieces hang dry with the smooth side next to some cotton bed sheets when they hang but it wrinkles and there is a grid pattern still left behind.
Hello Helen, I would like to ask what the exact name of the white pellon that you are using? I tried to search for it online but there are too many different options and i dont kbow which type can be used for couching. Thank you in advance!
Dear Helen!I very much appreciate your help! Thank you Helen! If you don’t mind me asking an other question, do you know how to make ebony black paper? What do I need to dye it with? Do you know what I could use to dye the pulp with to make ebony black paper?
@@traistarumonika7965 there are many ways to color paper. I'm sorry I don't have a perfect solution. I use acqueous dispersed pigments that I mix into the pulp. Others paint on top of the dry sheets. Do you have my books, Papermaking with Common Plants & Garden Weeks and The Papermaker's Companion? There is info on pigmenting and dyeing in those books.
@@HelenHiebert thank you Helen, I am going to buy your books! I most struggle with how to keep the strenght of the pigments, they fade away very much after drying. I use natural pigments like green clay , mixed in the pulp. Do you have a solution for how to keep the strenghts of the colours?
![how to make paper • no blender + indoor papermaking [craftvlog tutorial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kYOIYn5SqRY/mqdefault.jpg)
Helen: I saw this video just when I started making paper, and I completely forgot this trick. It would have saved me a lot of trouble had I remembered. Now I know, and I'll start using it in my thin paper production. Thanks for making great content on RUclips and in your weekly newsletter, The Sunday Paper!
Thank you for settling a novice's question. Invest in Pellon or stick with my old, cotton bedsheets. Bedsheets it is! 😊
This is actually super helpful for me! My husband and I want to to go off grid for our future homestead, and one thing I kept getting hung up on was the many things we use paper for - writing, wrapping meat, baking, etc. With this technique, I think I can finally figure out how to make the thin sheets needed for waxed baking paper! Thanks for uploading!
Thank you so much for sharing! I've had similar difficulties with pellon.
Jackie, I'm so glad this was helpful!
This just saved me a lot of money, thanks Helen :-)
Your paper looks great!
Wow! What a difference!!!!
Try flipping paper over (so felt side up) to remove from felt. Use finger or tool to loosen perimeter then pull felt away from paper. Works well if someone pulls the felt while someone else holds down the sheet.
Happy to hear about your method! It's hard to find 4 hands sometimes :).
Really you are a Master!!
Hi Helen, ive had a difficult time pulling the paper off of the screen onto the pellon or blotting felt. am i pulling the screen too soon? thanks!
There are many factors like what kind of pulp you are using, how thick/thin the sheets are, what you are couching onto... Here are some suggestions. try making thicker paper, couch onto cotton sheets (like I show here), pour water on the back of the mould after you lay the sheet onto the couching material, flooding the back of the screen. I hope you find success!
Hi Helen! Who made your Deckle and frame? I would like to purchase one. Thanks!
that one was made by Robert Walp, Chester Creek Press. You can find him online.
Hey Helen. Have you tried pulling the substrate from opposite, diagonally, corners. Sometimes the paper will pop off. 😊
Hi Lou, I did try this once and it worked so so, but I should try it several times. Thanks for the reminder!
What is the thickness of the paper you made ?? How thin handmade paper can be ?? Can I make rag paper using the same method ??
Can you link to the frame designer? I cant hear his name well on the video. Thx
sure, here you go: www.chestercreekpress.com/moulds.html
Hey if u can help me with dis... Am trying to couch the paper but am finding it very diff to couch it... It tears n half of d time it jus sticks to d mould.. I am coughing it on felt...
Couching can be difficult, especially if you are making thin sheets or your fiber is "sticky". It sounds to me like your sheets of paper are too dry when you are couching. Make sure that your felt is wet, and you can also try pouring water on the back of the couched mould. That sometimes helps the paper release.
@@HelenHiebert my fiber s made of newspaper.. n ya my felt was dry shall try it by making it wet... Thanks ☺️
Cool video, where do you get the large white couching sheets that are underneath the cotton. I can only find smaller ones. I have a hard time drying the paper well so there is a smooth surface for using as printmaking paper.
I guess you call them blotter sheets.
@@jeremyhulet9498 the blotters are the white sheets in the drying box. The white sheets on the couching table are heavy weight pellon (#65) and you can buy that by the bolt. Both could help your paper dry flat. I get the blotters from Dick Blick or Talas. The are called Cosmos blotters and they are pricey.
Do you think it would work for the outer layer of the sandwiching to be felt instead of the 2nd linter/blotter? So felt/linter/pulp/linter/felt. I'm just thinking cost effectiveness.
@@jeremyhulet9498 I have seen people use other materials like this. As long as you can get everything to dry, I think it is okay. You don't want any moisture trapped in there, or you'll get mold.
@@HelenHiebert Thanks for the help Helen! I started pressing the sheets like you mentioned here and in your drying box video, but I'm having trouble getting a really smooth surface. Do you have to use the blotters and have them next to the surface you want to be the smoothest or will the cotton fabric produce a nice smooth surface? I would like them to be as smooth as possible so you could even write/draw on them. I tried pressing and them letting my pieces hang dry with the smooth side next to some cotton bed sheets when they hang but it wrinkles and there is a grid pattern still left behind.
I pull on opposite corners and it comes loose easily
Pepper Daisy = Lou ☺️
Hello Helen, I would like to ask what the exact name of the white pellon that you are using? I tried to search for it online but there are too many different options and i dont kbow which type can be used for couching. Thank you in advance!
I use Pellon #65 Extra Heavy Weight sew in stabilizer. I usually get it at Joann Fabrics.
Dear Helen!I very much appreciate your help! Thank you Helen! If you don’t mind me asking an other question, do you know how to make ebony black paper? What do I need to dye it with?
Do you know what I could use to dye the pulp with to make ebony black paper?
@@traistarumonika7965 there are many ways to color paper. I'm sorry I don't have a perfect solution. I use acqueous dispersed pigments that I mix into the pulp. Others paint on top of the dry sheets. Do you have my books, Papermaking with Common Plants & Garden Weeks and The Papermaker's Companion? There is info on pigmenting and dyeing in those books.
@@HelenHiebert thank you Helen, I am going to buy your books! I most struggle with how to keep the strenght of the pigments, they fade away very much after drying. I use natural pigments like green clay , mixed in the pulp. Do you have a solution for how to keep the strenghts of the colours?
@@traistarumonika7965 dyes fade. That's just a fact. Pigments are more lightfast.
I’m so surprised anyone wld use pelon. Its too fibrous. I’ve been using cotton sheets for twenty years now...and they’re awesome.